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Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Nobody at the Party
The velvet ropes pulled tight around the entrance to the Moonstone Lounge. It beautified the edifice as it glittered like gold chains wrapped around the privileged. Paparazzi flashes lit the pavement like flash lights. It caught glimpses of designer dresses, their high-cheekbone smirks, and laughter that echoed throughout the Lounge.
And somewhere in that centre of the glamor, beauty, and Gucci perfume, stood Jaylen Cruz. He kept to one corner as he hugged the shoulder of his friend. His friend was a twitchy second-tier influencer named Rico Flame. Rico barely had twenty thousand followers, but his manager had made an alteration to the guest list to grant him an entrance, and Jaylen slipped through behind him. "You better not talk to anyone unless they talk to you first," Rico hissed under his breath. “Act like you belong.” His voice was stiff. Jaylen nodded, adjusting the collar of his clearly thrifted made-real leather jacket. His shirt clung to his chest with nervous sweat, and the cheap chain around his neck felt like it was choking him. He glanced down at the flash drive in his hand - the one with his demo. All he needed was a shot and one real connection. Inside, the lounge pulsed with low music and high egos. The walls were coloured in sapphire light, and holographic brand logos that danced across the marble floor. Celebrities laughed in their own corners, sipped champagne like it was water, and exchanged unreal smiles like it was their currency for trade. Jaylen took a deep breath and stepped into the crowd. No one noticed him. He walked past a cluster of low-tier actors from a streaming drama. The people he’d once interacted with online. They looked right through him. A tall model bumped into him and he didn’t say sorry. Jaylen hissed and couldn't fight back cause he doesn't want to draw attention. But someone from behind him laughed and whispered, “Who invited the intern?” Jaylen brushed it off and made a beeline for the bar. He didn’t have drink money, but he needed a place to stand that didn’t feel like the floor was swallowing him whole. He posted up near a velvet booth where a handful of producers were gathered. One of them being Lance Marrow, a mid-tier name in the music scene and the producer he had dreamed of meeting since college. This was it - the shot he had been looking for. Jaylen waited for the right moment, then he stepped forward after summoning the courage. “Hey, sorry to interrupt. Mr. Marrow, right? I - I’m a musician. Got a demo, man. If you would just give it a listen…” Lance didn’t even turn his head fully. He looked at Jaylen over his sunglasses like he was peering at trash through the glass. “You got a SoundCloud?” He asked with a light smirk. “I-I mean yeah, but, this is unreleased. I think it's a pure heat. Just take a moment to listen.” Lance chuckled and finally faced him. “Pure heat, huh?” He took the flash drive and held it up like a specimen. “You look like you just walked out of a Goodwill clearance bin, and you want me to believe you got the next hit?” His table roared with laughter. Jaylen felt heat rush to his face. He opened his mouth, then shut it again. Lance shook his head, tossed the flash drive over his shoulder like garbage, and turned back to his champagne. "Security,” one of them muttered. Jaylen backed away quickly with his heart pounding. The laughter echoed in his skull. He turned around to search for the one person in this place who might still care, Mia Lennox, his girlfriend. He had actually slipped through to the Lounge because of her. He spotted her across the room in a red bodycon dress that clung like to her body. She was holding court near the VIP alcove. She was surrounded by stylists, dancers, and photographers snapping away like she was royalty. Her hair was perfectly curled with her lips glossed to perfection, and when she smiled, it wasn’t at him. Jaylen approached slowly, dodging elbows and making his way through. “Mia,” he called softly. But she didn’t hear hear him. “Mia.” He called louder this time around. She glanced sideways and her smile dropped like a glass on tile. For a moment, she looked like she didn’t recognize him. Then, with a forced half-smile, she stepped toward him, lowering her voice. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. Her eyes scanning the crowd. “I told you I’d find a way in,” he said, trying to smile. “I thought maybe we could get a photo together. You said you’d introduce me to…” “Are you serious?” she cut in with a sharp voice and low. “Jaylen, look at you. You’re not even dressed for this. People seeing us together is a total embarrassment for me.” His stomach sank. “I’m your boyfriend.” His voice hardened. “Keep your voice down,” she snapped, glancing over her shoulder. “I told you to wait until I texted. You barging in like this…it’s pathetic!” Jaylen took a step back. “You said you would support my music if I can get in here…” “I did say that,” she said quickly. “But I can’t keep vouching for someone who’s going nowhere.” The words hit like bricks. But before he could speak again, someone grabbed her waist from behind. “Baby, there you are,” came a deep and arrogant voice. Jaylen’s jaw dropped just as Blake Voss who was tall, sharp-jawed, and dressed in a white designer blazer slid an arm around Mia like he’d owned her forever. Jaylen froze. Blake smiled at him like a wolf. “Hey… you're the guy from that cringe video, right? The freestyle in the parking lot?” He laughed. “Got potential, man. Have you ever thought of leaving the industry?” Mia chuckled under her breath. Jaylen’s hands curled into fists. “Mia,” he whispered. “What is this?” She shrugged, not meeting his eyes. Blake leaned down and kissed her neck. Jaylen’s breath left him all at once. Without thinking, he turned and stumbled away, pushing past dancers and models with his vision blurry. The crowd swallowed him, and the music felt miles away. He pushed open a side door into the garden courtyard, hoping for air, for space and for something that didn’t feel like it was collapsing. But the universe wasn’t done with him yet. Just as he walked Into the middle of the beautiful lit courtyard, under a glowing spotlight from the building’s neon art installation. He turned around to look at who he had left behind. Maybe she would rush to explain things to him. But Mia Lennox and Blake Voss lips were locked in a passionate kiss. Her hands were on his chest. His hand slid down her back. Jaylen froze. The spotlight poured over them, turning them into a perfect tabloid photo. From the bushes, a camera man snapped the shot - click, click, click. Jaylen stood in the dark, watching it all unfold like a bad dream that refused to end. His throat tightened and his stomach turned. The flash from the camera bounced off Blake’s grinning face. And then Mia’s eyes fluttered open. They landed right on Jaylen.Expand
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Latest Chapter
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 9: Sabotage Protocol
Inside his system feed, a warning suddenly flared. “DANGER DETECTED: AGENTS DEPLOYED. Roman Vale has initiated countermeasures. Expect attacks from PR handlers, tabloid leaks, legal traps, and paid influencers. Phase 1: Career Sabotage Incoming.” Across the city, in dimly lit conference rooms and penthouse suites, Roman’s agents whispered. “Take him down quietly. But thoroughly.” Jaylen Cruz had just made his most dangerous enemy yet. ………. Jaylen woke to something smelling like chaos. His phone buzzed non-stop. Ping after ping. Texts, emails, trending hashtags, even missed calls from people he hadn’t spoken to in years. He rubbed his eyes, still half-asleep until he saw the headline flashing on his screen, “Jaylen Cruz: Violent Past and Stolen Lyrics?” He sat up fast. His heart thuds slowly. “Zee,” he muttered. “What the hell is this?” “Sabotage,” Zee replied flatly. “Welcome to Phase One.” Jaylen clicked open the article. It was a full exposé, fabricated timeline, twiste
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 8: Strip the Faker
The clerk nodded nervously and totaled the bill.“ The total of the bill is 9,820 dollars.” Jaylen nodded. Jaylen brought out his Z-Credit Card. It's a System Bound Unlimimited spending card.Jaylen inserted the glowing card Zee had generated from his system account. The machine beeped once.‘TRANSACTION: APPROVED.’Blake’s jaw dropped. So did his ego.“Go on,” Jaylen said. “Strip. A bet’s a bet.” His voice rang fiercely. “I…this is a stunt!” Blake barked. “You set me up!” His voice hardened with despair. “Maybe,” Jaylen said. “But you made the rules. And the whole boutique’s watching.”People had started recording. Staff had stopped working. Even the security guard stood still with his eyes wide.“Take. It. Off,” someone chanted.Then more people joined.“TAKE! IT! OFF!”Flushed and humiliated, Blake hesitated, then peeled off his designer coat, his expensive shirt and his name-brand pants…Now standing in the middle of the store in designer boxers. His face flushed red.Jaylen s
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 7: Freestyle Rebirth
Jaylen wasn’t just performing. He was claiming territory.“Blake Voss had my name in his mouth,Cool - now it’s in everyone’s, no doubt. Kissed my girl, beat me like trash, Now watch me make your career collapse.” The final bar dropped like a nuke.Vixie’s eyes widened in shock. The internet was in Chaos with comments like,“NOOOO HE CALLED OUT BLAKE???”“He just triggered a celebrity war.”“This freestyle will live in infamy.” “#JaylenVossChallenge LET’S GO.”Jaylen ended the verse, not with a shout, but with a breath. He tossed the mic gently onto the host’s table and turned to the cameras.“Let this be the start,” he said. “I’m not just here to survive. I’m here to take everything back.”“LIVESHOW MODE COMPLETE. +5 Talent Points Earned. +500,000 Views Registered. +Massive Audience Retention Achieved. Skill Upgrade: Live Presence from Level 1 - level 3. Social Stat: Charisma Boosted. Performance Record: Viral Benchmark Achieved.”Just after the system gave him his reward for compl
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 6: The Podcast Trap
“Luck’s when hard work and timing meet up for drinks.”“Oh, you’re poetic now?” she teased.“I’ve always been poetic. Y’all just weren’t listening.” He expressed warmly. The audience watching live flooded the stream with laughing emojis, fire reactions, and heart comments.Jaylen was cruising, owning the mic and controlling the tone.Until…. Vixie turned to the producer and gave a subtle nod.“I hope you don’t mind,” she said with a sugary sweet voice. “We’ve got a little surprise for you tonight.”Jaylen’s stomach dropped slightly, but his face didn’t flinch.“Joining us live is someone who knows you better than most…” The screen behind them lit up. Written on it was, Incoming Call: MIA LENNOX.Jaylen leaned back slowly like he wasn't concerned and he got this. The viewers went wild and comments exploded. “Noooo she’s calling??”“Jaylen keep it cool” “DRAMA INCOMINGGGG”Mia appeared on screen. Her hair was flawless, her makeup was soft and a fake vulnerability painted across he
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 5: Useless No More
Jaylen hoping those he had ordered for would arrive to help him. ……..Two hours later, a black SUV pulled up outside his building. Jaylen stepped out and seeing them, he knew they were who he had ordered for. A man in a leather trench coat stepped out first. He was tall, bronze-skinned, wore night sunglasses and a beanie tucked under wild curls.“Name’s Vale,” he said, eyeing Jaylen from head to toe like he was raw meat. “You’re famous. But you’re still broke. Let’s fix that.”Behind him stepped a petite woman holding a digital clipboard with a sleek bun, pierced nose, red lips and she has zero patience.“Tasha,” she said. “I run brand stories. Right now, your story screams, ‘Pity me.’ We’re about to change the narrative.”Jaylen stepped aside, stunned, as the pair entered his apartment and got to work with him like a hurricane team.Vale dug through his closet. “Why do you still own cargo shorts?” He asked. Before he could reply, Tasha scanned his socials. “These captions? Grindin
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
Rise of the Zillionaire Star Chapter 4: Beat Down in the Rain
Jaylen staggered to his feet, his drenched clothes clinging to his body, the alley was silent except for the system’s hum in his ears.“What… is this?” he muttered. “Your second chance, Jaylen Cruz.” The system's voice was sharper, confident and live. “You may call me Zee. I’m your personal AI assistant. Your path to fame, fortune, and vengeance. Your enemies left you to rot. The world thinks you’re finished. We’re going to prove them all wrong.”Jaylen blinked, stunned. “This is insane. I’m hearing voices now?” He questioned himself, thinking he was already going crazy. “Incorrect. You’re hearing what will make you achieve destiny. Shall we begin your rise?”A holographic screen flickered into view in front of him, floating in midair, “QUEST: FIRST LIGHT. Objective: Create and upload a viral video within 24 hours. Reward: +1 Fame, +100 Z-Credits and full recovery. Penalty: System Termination. Host will return to his previous condition.”Jaylen stared at the screen. His fists clenc
Last Updated : 2025-07-15
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